Associate Professor, Recreation and Leisure Studies
Corliss Bean is an Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. Her research focuses on using sport and physical activity as vehicles to foster physical and psychosocial development in youth, postpartum women, and individuals at risk of developing prediabetes across communities. She works with community organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate relevant programming or initiatives. Corliss is also the director of the Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport and was awarded the 2025 Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Research Excellence Award.
- Positive youth development
- Life skills
- Program development, implementation, and evaluation
- Sport and physical activity
- Knowledge translation
- Girls and women in sport
- Postpartum physical activity
- Behaviour change
Accreditation
- Credentialed Evaluator, Canadian Evaluation Society
Affiliations
- Director, Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport
- Member, Centre for Sport Capacity, Brock University
- Academic Network, Youth Research & Evaluation eXchange
- Canadian Evaluation Society
- Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology
- North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
Selected Publications (2020-present)
1. Kramers, S., & Bean, C. (2025). Sharing women’s sport coaching journeys through digital storytelling. World Leisure Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2025.2461174
2. Lesser, I. A., Mahmood, B., Lear, S. & Bean, C. (2025). The need for understanding beliefs and barriers around physical activity postpartum among South Asian immigrant women to improve health equity: A commentary. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.18121
3. Kramers, S., Bean, C., Hummell, C., & Harlow, M. (2024). Exploring Canadian women’s coaching journeys to high-performance sport through a composite creative nonfiction. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 17(3), 189-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2024.2442659
4. Lesser, I., Bean, C., & Ritondo, T. (2024). “Take a minute (or 60) to focus on yourself”: Using autophotography to explore postpartum physical activity experiences and associated psychological constructs. Journal of Health Psychology. doi:10.1177/13591053241284032
5. Pierce, S., O’Neil, L., Camiré, M., Bean, C., & Rathwell, S. (2024). Examining the relationship between life skills coaching approaches and life skills outcomes for high school athletes. International Sport Coaching Journal (ahead of print). https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2023-0091
6. Ritondo, T., Bean, C., & Lesser, I. (2024). Pictures and processes: The use of autophotography to illustrate the experience of physical activity engagement in motherhood. Methods in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2024.100139
7. Lesser, I., Wurz, A., Bean, C., & Hatfield, G. (2024). Exploring feasibility, accessibility, and potential benefits of the Mom Movement intervention (MOMmi): A 12-week mind-body physical activity program for postpartum women. Nursing for Women’s Health, 28(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2024.01.006
8. Lesser, I. A., Wurz, A., Bean, C., Lear, S. A., & Jung, M. E. (2023). Participant bias in community-based physical activity research: A consistent limitation? Journal of Physical Activity and Health. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0267
9. Turgeon, S., Newman, T. J., Lee, L., Bean, C., & Nicholas, O. (2023). Social justice attitudes and behavioural intentions of NCAA student-athletes: The role of life skills. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2023.2238273
10. Ritondo, T., Bean, C., & Lesser, I. (2023). “I didn’t know who to ask about how it should feel”: Postpartum women navigating the return to physically active leisure. Leisure/Loisir. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14927713.2023.2224344
11. Allan, V. ^, Bean, C., Kerr, B. ^, & Gassewitz, D. ^ (2023). Partnering for impact: A blueprint for knowledge translation initiatives in the Canadian sport sector. Quest. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2023.2209331
12. Kramers, S., Bean, C., Hummell, C., Allan, V., Johnson, A., & Turnnidge, J. (2023). Reflections on improving women’s experiences of mentorship in Canadian coaching. International Sport Coaching Journal, Advance online publication, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2022-0091
13. Bishop, E., Turgeon, S., Tang, W., Newman, T., Strachan, L., Bean, C., & Camiré, M. (2023). White privilege in Canadian high school sport: Investigating White coaches’ perspectives on social justice issues. Sport Coaching Review. https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2023.2218265
14. Bean, C., Lesser, I., & Ritondo, T. (2023). Women moving forward in pictures: Using digital photographs to explore postpartum women’s physical activity experiences. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 15(5), 669-691. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2023.2185283
15. Hummell, C., Shaikh, M. & Bean, C. (2023). Current state and future directions for youth sport evaluation practices: An empirical study. Managing Sport and Leisure. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2023.2184714
16. Lesser, I., Turgeon, S., Neinhuis, C., & Bean, C. (2023). Examining the role of physical activity engagement on psychological constructs and mental well-being of postpartum women. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 31(1), 40-49. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2022-0057
17. Dineen, T. E., Bean, C., & Jung, M. E. (2022). Successes and challenges from a motivational interviewing-informed diabetes prevention program situated in the community. Health Promotion Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399221115066
18. Newman, T., Turgeon, S., Moore, M., Bean., C., Lee, L., Knuettel, M., & Osmers Rahill, C. (2022). The dual pandemic: COVID-19, systemic racism, and college student-athletic mental health. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 21(1), 156-173. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2022.2026997
19. Dineen, T. E., Bean, C., & Jung, M. E. (2022). Implementation of a diabetes prevention program within two community sites: A qualitative assessment. Implementation Science Communications, 3(11), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-022-00258-6
20. Bean, C., Nienhuis, C., Proulx, J. Cash, T., Aknin, L. & Whillans, A. (2021). Coaches’ reflections of using a charity-driven framework to foster youth athletes’ physical and psychosocial outcomes. International Sport Coaching Journal, 9(3), 292-304. https://doi.org/10.1123/iscj.2021-0024
Blogs
Bean, C., Kerwin, S., & Bookman, D. (July 2024). What we can all learn from Canadian Girls Baseball: A leader in girls-only sport (blog). Sport Information Resource Centre Blog https://sirc.ca/blog/what-we-can-all-learn-from-canadian-girls-baseball-a-leader-in-girls-only-sport/
Hummell, C., & Bean, C. (October 2023). Four strategies to support girls through sport-based mentorship. Sport Information Resource Centre Blog. https://sirc.ca/blog/support-girls-sport-mentorship/
Lau, M., Bean, C., & Hummell, C. (2023). How youth athletes can support their own life skill development through sport. Sport Information Resource Centre Blog. https://sirc.ca/blog/life-skill-development-through-sport/
Bean, C., Newman, T., Camiré, M., & Strachan, L. (2022). Using life skills to promote social justice: Youth sport as a vehicle for social change. Sport Information Resource Centre Blog. https://sirc.ca/blog/using-life-skills-to-promote-social-justice/
Lesser, I., Bean, C., & Hatfield, G. (2022). Heart rate variability and self-compassion: Two tools to help postpartum mothers make exercise decisions. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/heart-rate-variability-and-self-compassion-two-tools-to-help-postpartum-mothers-make-exercise-decisions-193548
Bean, C., Lesser, I., & Ritondo, T. (2022). From one mom to another: Tips for being active after welcoming a new baby. Sport Information Resource Centre https://sirc.ca/blog/tips-for-being-active-after-a-baby/
Lesser, I., Nienhuis, C., Bean, C., & Ritondo, T. (2022). Returning to exercise postpartum: Supporting women’s physical activity after the birth of a child. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/returning-to-exercise-postpartum-supporting-womens-physical-activity-after-the-birth-of-a-child-177744
Bean, C., Hummell, C., & Penrose, C. (2021). Ask the experts: Q&A with Chris Penrose about learning from and communicating evaluation findings. Sport Information Resource Centre Blog. https://sirc.ca/blog/qa-with-chris-penrose/
Bean, C., Hummell, C., & Shaikh, M. (2021). Three recommendations for sport organizations when engaging in evaluation. Sport Information Resource Centre Blog. https://sirc.ca/blog/three-recommendations-for-evaluation/
Book chapters
- Bean, C., & Shaikh, M. (2024). Evaluation for positive youth development through sport. In N. L. Holt and M. McDonough (Eds.), Positive youth development through sport (3rd ed., pp. 288-301). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003395867
- Kramers, S., Bean, C., Camiré, M., & Forneris, T. (2023). Teaching life skills in youth sport. In D. Tod, K. Hodge, & V. Krane (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Applied Sport Psychology (2nd ed., pp. 203-210). Routledge.
- Bean, C., & Kramers, S. (2022). How sports can prepare you for life. In S. N. Thrower, V. Shanmuganathan-Felton, & C. Harwood (Eds.), Frontiers for Young Minds: The psychology behind sports performance. https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2022.666078
- Bean, C., & Kramers, S. (2019). Coaching with intentionality: Working towards explicit approaches for life skills development. In F. Santos, L. Strachan, & P. Pereira (Eds.), Coach education for the next decade: The need for a positive youth development paradigm (pp. 63-76). Porto, PT: School of Higher Education, Polytechnic Institute of Porto.
- Bean, C. (2017). Program quality in youth sport and physical activity. In K. Peppler (Ed.), SAGE Encyclopedia of Out-of-School Learning (pp. 632-633). New York: SAGE Publications. doi:10.4135/9781483385198.n241
- Forneris, T., Bean, C., & Halsall, T. (2016). Positive youth development programming with marginalized populations. In N. L. Holt (Ed.), Positive youth development through sport (2nd ed., pp. 168-179). London: Routledge.
- Leisure, Health and Wellbeing
- Program Evaluation in Recreation
- Post-doctoral Fellow, the University of British Columbia (2020)
- Doctorate in Philosophy, Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa (2017)
- Master of Arts, Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa (2013)
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa (2011)
Dr. Bean is accepting applications from students interested in completing a thesis-based master’s of doctoral degree. She has funding to support students in an area of study that aligns with her expertise (e.g., positive youth development through sport, program evaluation, behaviour change, knowledge translation, postpartum women’s physical activity). Please review her publication record.
In addition, Dr. Bean supervises directed studies courses at the graduate level (e.g., AHSC 5P60, AHSC 7P60) that complement her research interests and through the Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport. If you are interested, please reach out to discuss this opportunity.
Dr. Bean supports numerous undergraduate student course-based or volunteer research opportunities that complement her research interests and as part of the Centre for Healthy Youth Development through Sport. If you have a topic that you would like to explore, please reach out to discuss.